A friend is serving a church in which there are quite a few young children. Before the service starts, and after it is over, the children run and play and chase each other. These chasing games often spill over into the sanctuary where running down one aisle and up the other is great fun. During the service the children are likely to get a bit squirmy at times. I have attended, and was excited by the number of children and at their comfort level in God's house. I watched them once during a communion service, and when coming forward the children were very respectful.
Now comes three women to complain. They are not happy with the children running before and after, and squirming during worship. They want the Pastor to lower the boom on these children and their families so that they stand still and be quiet at all times when they are in the building. The Pastor is caught. He loves having the children, and sees it as a sign of health for the congregation. But these women are very influential, and have been members, and good givers, for years.
When I was a child we knew how to behave during worship. But before, after, and during the week we saw it as just a building. It seems to me that these children are acting the same way. I think there is more going on in my friend's church than noisy children, but I still have the voice of Jesus ringing in my ears: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belong the Kingdom of God."
Creator God, you have created humans in your image. But sometimes we think that that only applies to adult humans between the ages of 25 and 60. We often discount the very young and very old as having less to contribute to society. Help us to see your face when we look into the eyes of others. Help us to truly listen to those we might otherwise discount. All persons are persons of sacred worth, no matter their age, so help us to value them and their contributions both to society and to our congregations...
Now comes three women to complain. They are not happy with the children running before and after, and squirming during worship. They want the Pastor to lower the boom on these children and their families so that they stand still and be quiet at all times when they are in the building. The Pastor is caught. He loves having the children, and sees it as a sign of health for the congregation. But these women are very influential, and have been members, and good givers, for years.
When I was a child we knew how to behave during worship. But before, after, and during the week we saw it as just a building. It seems to me that these children are acting the same way. I think there is more going on in my friend's church than noisy children, but I still have the voice of Jesus ringing in my ears: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belong the Kingdom of God."
Creator God, you have created humans in your image. But sometimes we think that that only applies to adult humans between the ages of 25 and 60. We often discount the very young and very old as having less to contribute to society. Help us to see your face when we look into the eyes of others. Help us to truly listen to those we might otherwise discount. All persons are persons of sacred worth, no matter their age, so help us to value them and their contributions both to society and to our congregations...
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